Alabama bingo vote-buying trial enters third day of jury selection

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --Day three of jury selection in the State House vote-buying case has begun this morning as prosecutors and defense lawyers prepare to question a third panel of potential jurors.

Lawyers speculated that it could be a long day as the court pushes to get a jury seated in the public corruption case. The court, in a quest to wrap up the slow moving proceedings, is bringing in 40 potential jurors to question instead of the usual panel number of about 27.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers have so far questioned two panels of jurors gauging their attitudes about politicians, gambling and federal wiretaps. Several jurors from each panel have been dismissed for hardships or cause that would prevent them from sitting in judgment in the trial that is expected to last at least two months.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson has said he wants to get to about 60 qualified jurors before letting the two sides do their strikes.

VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, Sen. Harri Anne Smith, I-Slocomb; Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery; two former state senators, a casino spokesman, a former legislative employee and two of Montgomery's most influential lobbyists -- Tom Coker and Bob Geddie -- will be on trial on charges of buying and selling votes for a gambling bill before lawmakers in 2010.